British envoy concerned by rebel attacks on civilians in S. Kordofan

March 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The British Ambassador to Sudan, Peter Tibber, Monday condemned attacks on civilians by the fighters of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan last week.

The Sudanese authorities accused the rebels of killing civilians and burning their houses in Kalogi an Al-Rahmania which are inhabited by Arab ethnic groups.

We are “concerned by reports of alleged attack on civilians by rebels in Kalogi,” said Tibber in a tweet on Monday.

The British diplomat further called “on all sides to respect human rights and not attack civilians”.

Last week the Sudanese foreign ministry rejected a British government report on the violations of human rights in Sudan particularly in the Two Areas and Darfur . Khartoum blamed the UK for turning blind eye on the abuses committed by the rebel groups.

The SPLM spokesperson Arnu Lodi last Friday announced the attack on Kalogi located north to the state capital Kadoguli. He said their attacks on several government-controlled areas in South Kordofan aim to prevent the general elections scheduled for April.

In statement to Ashorooq TV on Monday, South Kodofan governor, Adam al-Faki, said that 40 civilians were killed and many houses destroyed following the assault of the SPLM-N rebels in Kalogi. Also he said some 250 families lost their belongings.

Al-Faki further pointed that 450 houses were burnt in Al Rahmaniya, another locality in South Kodofan the rebel attacked on Thursday.

The Sudanese Humanitarian Aid Commission in Abu Jubaiha district announced the arrival of 3,740 displaced persons from Al-Rahmania.

However, the governor said the Sudanese army soldiers are in full control of the situation in the areas affected by the recent rebel attacks.

(ST)